With keen appreciation of the amateur's usual limitations, International Grandmaster Eugene Znosko Borovsky explains the importance of rapid development of the pieces, occupation of the center, the relation of the opening to the general plan of the player, and significance of control of the center.

As noted in the foreward, this book is somewhat mis-titled: It should have been called "Understanding the Chess Openings". It certainly explains the reasons for the moves that it recommends, thereby aiding in understanding. However, some of the variations are out of date, which is not surprising for a reprint of a book decades old. Also, there are a number of openings that it does not cover. Still, overall, this is not a bad introduction to the openings.